POLICE COURT, QUEENSTOWN.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume II, Issue 81, 6 February 1864, Page 5

POLICE COURT, QUEENSTOWN.

Thursday, 4th February. (Before R. Beetham, Esq., K.M.) Personating a Constable.—Henry Nelson, charged with this offence, was fined £2O, or two months' imprisonment. Abusive and Threatening Language.— D. Powell, was charged with this offence, on the information of Henry Manders. Defendant pleaded not guilty. The complainant, being sworn, said—l am a goldbroker, residing at Queenstown. On Friday afternoon, the 29th inst, I was called into the shop of Mr Fitzgerald, Rees-street. A conversation ensued between Powell and myself. The conversation at first was of a friendly nature: afterwards it turned to Hospital affairs, and the suspension of Dr Pelley by the committee. The language of Powell was very irritating, and as I was leaving he said " These are nice reports that you are spreading about Dr Pelley ; that a man in the Hospital is dying through his absence." I replied "You mean man —how dare you put such an expression in my mouth! I said that there were various serious cases in the Hospital; and amongst them that a man was dying. After such perversion of my words I can hold no intercourse with you : you are a dangerous man." I spoke warmly ; and as I left Powell used these words: "You are a d d little sneak ; and as bad as any of them. You can take it out of me in any way you like." Cross-examined—l was called into Fitzgerald's by you and Mr Fitzgerald. I did not say to you <l You d d contemptible scoundrel, how dare you speak to me in that way ? " or words to that effect. You did say to me, " Don't irritate me; lam bound over to keep the peace." This was about a quarter of an hour before the words were used that I complain of. It was at the door of the shop you called me a sneak. Constable Mulloy deposed—l was in Fitzgerald's shop on Friday afternoon. I remember a conversation between Mr Manders and Mr Powell, about hospital affairs and Dr Pelley's suspension. I don't remember you contradicting an assertion made by Mr Powell. I do not remember hearing you charge Mr Powell with putting words in your mouth which you said you did not use. I remember it being stated that a patient was dying in the hospital. I did not hear Powell say that you had spread a report relative to Dr Pelley. As you were leaving the shop I remember Powell saying, " Manders, you scoundrel, don't irritate me, as I am bound over to keep the peaceor words to that effect. I don't remember hearing any other words. I don't remember Powell calling you a d d little sneak, but I heard him say you were as bad as the rest. I don't remember Powell shouting after you when you left the shop. I was in the shop when Mr Manders came in and until he left. The conversation at first was of a friendly nature. I don't remember Mr Manders calling you a d d contemptible scoundrel, or words to that effect. You did not call to Manders to return, or say that you would take it out of him. By the Court—l recollect Manders saying that there was a man nearly dead in the hospital. High words did occur two or three minutes before Manders kft. I heard Powell call Manders a scoundrel, and not to aggravate him, as he was bound over to keep the peace. I think Manders called Powell some name, but I don't remember what it was. I don't think it was a good name, but I don't know what it was. That was after Powell told him not to irritate him. Case dismissed.